About Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak ...?

Question

In the first book, Dumbledore sends Harry the cloak with a note that says, "Your father left this in my possession." Why was the cloak in Dumbledore's possession in the first place though, when, later in the book, he explains to Harry, "I don't need a Cloak to become invisible."?

Answer 1

I think that Harry's father didn't want it falling into the wrong hands so he requested that Dumbledore look after it until Harry was of the right age to acquire it.

Answer 2

The cloak was simply left in Dumbledore's protection for the use by Harry.



Dumbledore is proficient enough to become invisible without the cloak.



Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to read some more of Terry Pratchit's story's!

Answer 3

If you had an heirloom and knew that it might be tossed to one side, burnt or held at little value by those bringing up your child would you not find someone who knew the heirlooms value and you could trust absolutely to give it to your child when they reach a responsible age? JK Rowling is entirely rational in her writing - she assumes Dumbledore would be the man to whom Harry's father would turn for such a responsibility - rather than the Dursleys. The point of giving it to Dumbledore is not so that he could use it, but so that he could pass it on to Harry. Terribly serious about children's fiction aren't we both?



Might be interesting to ask if such a cloak might be possible. If one used small sequins which mirrored the view seen from the bacmk round to a sequin on the front of the cloak - over millions of sequins then might it be possible for a viewer to believe they were seeing through a solid object? If so how could one make such a cloak light enough to wear? Next stop sci fi for JKR I think.

Answer 4

Well that doesn't necessarily mean that Dumbledore used the cloak, James Potter just gave it to Dumbledore to give it to Harry when he's older. It was probably the safest to leave it with Dumbledore.

Answer 5

There is absolutely nothing in the books to support my opinion, but I will still share it with you.



James was a bit on the naughty side--look at how he and his friends tortured Snape. I think the cloak was actually confiscated by Dumbledore when James was doing something he shouldn't have been doing. I don't think that it was a matter of him saying, "Here, Dumbledore, please hold on to this for me." I think it was more along the lines of, "Well, Dumbledore confiscated the cloak, so no more sneaking into the kitchens at night." I think he just didn't ask for it to be returned to him, even when he knew who had it. I think Dumbledore realized after the Potters were killed that he would need to save it for Harry, and that it would be useful to Harry later on. I think that's why he gives it to Harry when he does, right in the first year, rather than waiting.



Just my opinion, mind you.

Answer 6

Maybe someone in the order required a spare cloak or James Potter gave it to Dumbledore to be given to Peter Pettigrew who was the secret keeper at that time.

Answer 7

Good Question!



My guess is that somehow the cloak once belonged to Godric Gryfindor and that Voldemort was planning on using the cloak as the horcrux from Gryfindor House.



I think James did not want something as valuable as the cloak, let alone a cloak from Godric falling into the wrong hands. He knew Voldemort was after him! He also knew if his son survived this mess, he'd be targeted forever!

Answer 8

Well may be Harry's father was a psychic and could tell that Harry would need it in the future and that he was going to be killed by Voldemort. He gave it to Albus Dumbledore because he knew that he could trust him and was in hope that when Harry got to Hogwarts, he would be able to use it then?

I'm not sure, but I wouldn't get too deep into the explanation, there probably is none - it just makes the novel more exciting!

Lorna

Answer 9

DURING AN INTERVIEW, JK ROWLING WAS ONCE ASKED:



"WHAT'S THE BEST QUESTION YOU WERE NEVER ASKED?"



SHE REPLIED:



"WHY DID DUMBLEDORE HAVE JAMES POTTER'S INVISIBILITY CLOAK"



SHE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS LITTLE MYSTERY WOULD BE SOLVED IN THE LAST BOOK SO IF U JUST WAIT ANOTHER 14 DAYS THEN U WILL DEFINITELY FIND OUT THE TRUTH LOL xx

Answer 10

I don't think that Harry's dad gave Dumbledore the cloak for him to use but rather to look after it for him.

Answer 11

James left it in Dumbledore's possession to give to Harry

Answer 12

Anyone can trust Dumbledore, so Harry's father probably left it to Dumbledore so it couldn't be used for evil.

Answer 13

all will be revealed in "deathly hallows". JK Rowling said it in an interview that we will find out some crucial info on Dumbledore and Lily. The invisibilty cloak is mentioned too.

Answer 14

maybe Harry's Father left it somewhere safe before he was killed and somehow let Dumbledore know he wanted him to give it to his son, should he survive. on the other hand the cloak could have been given to Sirius who then gave it to Dumbledore when he was put in Azkaban. this is all just summising but its given me something to think about.....

Answer 15

James only gave the cloak to Dumbldore for safe-keeping.

So that he would give it to Harry when he was ready.

Maybe he gave the cloak to Dumbldore for the Order of the Phoenix.

Answer 16

my theory is james may have knew the prophesy, because why else would the have that concealement charm on his house which pettigrew was the keeper of, and since harry wasn't raised as a wizard you can't exactly give him the cloak, so give it the most powerful good wizard.

Answer 17

I think he was given it to look after, but I get your point. I mean, why didn't James just keep it instead of giving it away to someone who didn't need it, and if it was in his will or something then wouldn't he of left it to Harry as he probably did with everything else? Unless it was meant to represent something, but that's probably not likely. I suppose we're just not meant to think about it :)

Answer 18

Someone asked this of JKRowling in an interveiw and she wouldn't say. So it's going to turn out to be fairly important, and we'll find out in 2 weeks (yay!). More important that 'to look after it for him' I would imagine, I think he probably borrowed it for someone else to use. Don't know who though :P

Answer 19

this is a major plot point the will be revealed in book 7

Answer 20

and i thought you were going to ask how he could see the cloak!!

Answer 21

thats something thatll b answered in deathly hallows

Answer 22

www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com



There are some interesting ideas on here.